[Does an attempt to save a limb always prolong the patient's life?] / Vsegda li popytka sokhranit' konechnost' prodlevaet zhizn' patsienta?

AIM: The purpose of the study was to examine overall survival and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events, as well as economic expenditures for treatment of patients with occlusion of the femoropopliteal-tibial segment and critical ischaemia in low competence of the outflow channel, with a poor prognosis for endovascular or open revascularization of lower-limb arteries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied the results of treating a total of 68 patients with lower-limb critical ischaemia and low parameters of the outflow channel competence. Primary arterial reconstruction was performed in 48 cases. At various terms after revascularization due to thrombosis of the reconstruction zone and the development of gangrene, amputation of the lower limb was performed: at 3 to 11 (n=25) and at 12 to 24 (n=25) months. Primary amputation of the lower limb was performed in 20 patients. The endpoints of the study included overall survival, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events, and economic expenditures for the in-hospital treatment. The average duration of follow-up amounted to 2 years. RESULTS: The obtained findings demonstrated that in patients with lower-limb critical ischaemia and low parameters of the outflow channel competence, redo arterial reconstructions and amputation within 11 months, as well as a high level of surgical risk were associated with a low overall survival rate and the development of major adverse cardiovascular events in the remote period. Secondary surgical interventions on the major vessels significantly increased the cost of treatment.

[Antithrombotic therapy after bypass grafting below the inguinal ligament]. / Antitromboticheskaia terapiia posle shuntirovaniia nizhe pakhovoi sviazki.

The importance of antithrombotic therapy following reconstructive operations on arteries below the inguinal ligament is beyond question. The pharmaceutical market offers a wide variety of antiaggregant and anticoagulant agents, with many studies (including randomised and multicenter ones) performed worldwide on the problem of choosing optimal antithrombotic therapy in the postoperative period after arterial reconstructions. Nevertheless, the problem of selecting adequate antithrombotic therapy after shunting operations remains undetermined. Presented in the article is a review of foreign studies on the problem concerned. This is followed by discussing the results of many large international studies, including such trials as the BOA and CASPAR. Based on the findings obtained in these studies, Cochrane reviews, European and American guidelines, the authors express their opinion on the algorithms of choosing an appropriate variant of antithrombotic therapy during the postoperative period in patients after arterial reconstructions below the inguinal ligament.